Zakaria scores on Chelsea debut in Dinamo Zagreb win

2 years ago 24

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Denis Zakaria in action against Dinamo Zagreb

Denis Zakaria scored on his Chelsea debut as the Blues came from behind to round off their successful Champions League Group E campaign with victory against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts had already wrapped up top spot with a game to spare but were looking to respond after they were stunned 4-1 in the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday.

They made the worst possible start as they fell behind in the sixth minute when the Blues defence reacted poorly to a cross and Bruno Petkovic was able to head in from close range.

Chelsea initially struggled to create much in response but a well-worked move brought them their equaliser as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang backheeled the ball to Raheem Sterling inside the box and he kept his cool to slot in.

On-loan Juventus midfielder Zakaria then marked a dream debut as he drove in a low shot midway through the first half that squeezed over the line despite a defender's attempt to clear.

Dinamo needed to win to finish third and go into the Europa League and Edouard Mendy made a good save to deny Bosko Sutalo's point-blank header early in the second half.

Aubameyang came close to adding a third for Chelsea when he powered a shot against the crossbar and Conor Gallagher was denied late on, but ultimately Zakaria's goal was enough to seal the win for the Blues.

More to follow.

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Chelsea

Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number26Player nameKoulibaly
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number20Player nameZakaria
Squad number17Player nameSterling
Squad number9Player nameAubameyang

Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Squad number18Player nameBroja
Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Dinamo Zagreb

Squad number40Player nameLivakovic
Squad number13Player nameRistovski
Squad number37Player nameSutalo
Squad number55Player namePeric
Squad number27Player nameMisic
Squad number2Player nameMoharrami
Squad number7Player nameIvanusec
Squad number5Player nameAdemi
Squad number14Player nameLjubicic
Squad number9Player namePetkovic
Squad number99Player nameOrsic

Squad number11Player nameEmreli
Squad number18Player nameDrmic
Squad number31Player nameBulat
Squad number77Player nameSpikic

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-3-1-2

16Mendy
28Azpilicueta
14Chalobah
26KoulibalyBooked at 39minsSubstituted forThiago Silvaat 65'minutes
21Chilwell
19Mount
5Jorginho
29HavertzSubstituted forGallagherat 64'minutes
20ZakariaSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 71'minutes
17SterlingSubstituted forPulisicat 83'minutes
9AubameyangSubstituted forBrojaat 64'minutes

Substitutes

6Thiago Silva
10Pulisic
12Loftus-Cheek
13Bettinelli
18Broja
22Ziyech
23Gallagher
32Cucurella

Dinamo Zagreb

Formation 3-1-4-2

40Livakovic
13RistovskiSubstituted forEmreliat 69'minutes
37Sutalo
55Peric
27MisicBooked at 22mins
2MoharramiBooked at 89mins
7IvanusecBooked at 54mins
5AdemiSubstituted forBulatat 83'minutes
14Ljubicic
9PetkovicSubstituted forDrmicat 83'minutes
99OrsicSubstituted forSpikicat 89'minutes

Substitutes

3Stefulj
6Lauritsen
10Baturina
11Emreli
12Bockaj
18Drmic
20Marin
28Théophile-Catherine
31Bulat
33Nevistic
70Menalo
77Spikic

Referee:François Letexier

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 2, Dinamo Zagreb 1.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Dinamo Zagreb 1.
Attempt blocked. Mahir Emreli (Dinamo Zagreb) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Luka Ivanusec (Dinamo Zagreb) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mahir Emreli.
Attempt missed. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mahir Emreli (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt missed. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Substitution, Dinamo Zagreb. Dario Spikic replaces Mislav Orsic.
Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb).
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Josip Misic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt missed. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross following a set piece situation.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Substitution, Dinamo Zagreb. Marko Bulat replaces Arijan Ademi.